Design and matrix analysis of optical switch with multicast function using general MZI

Based on the analysis of the LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), a MZI with three optical switch functions (direct connection, cross connection and multicast connection) is demonstrated in this paper. With this MZI, a 4 × 4 optical switch is then proposed. The optical switch not only switches optical signal from one channel to another (1:1), but also from one channel to several channels (1: k) with non-blocking and duplex communication. Later, a matrix analysis on the optical switch proposed is given. In the end of this paper, an example of the transmission path and the controlling state of the optical switch is demonstrated.